Horacio Zeballos Jr. (Spanish pronunciation: [o'?asjo se'?a?os];[2] born 27 April 1985) is an Argentine professional tennis player on the men's circuit. His career-high singles ranking is world no. 39. His highest doubles ranking to date has been world no. 28, in March 2013. He has played most of his tennis in Challenger events. He qualified for the US Open and defeated Michael Berrer in the first round for his first win at Grand Slam level, before losing to Tomá? Berdych in four sets in the second round.

Personal life

Zeballos is an Argentine of Spanish descent. He enjoys music, ping-pong, and swimming. His father is also named Horacio Zeballos, and his mother is named Carolina. He has one sister, Carolina Jr. His favorite surface is clay, and he was coached by Alejandro Lombardo until 22 March 2012.

Tennis career

Zeballos has competed primarily on the ATP Challenger Tour, where he has won five singles titles and six doubles titles.

2010

Zeballos started the singles season in a slump, falling in the first round four times. He lost to countryman Juan Mónaco in Auckland and German Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Australian Open, before losing in three sets after taking the opener against ?ukasz Kubot in Santiago. He retired in the second set when already a set down against Spain's Marcel Granollers in his first clay match of the year in Brazil. Horacio, though, had an excellent start to the doubles season. In his first tournament, the Heineken Open, Zeballos and Rogier Wassen defeated world no. 1 team Bob and Mike Bryan. Zeballos then reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open with countryman Leonardo Mayer, and reached the final at the Movistar Open with Italian Potito Starace. Zeballos then turned to the clay in the Copa Telmex in Argentina, where in the first round, he defeated countryman and former French Open champion Gastón Gaudio. It was Zeballos' first ATP singles win since he reached the final in St. Petersburg. Zeballos next defeated former world no. 1 Carlos Moyá and reached his first ATP quarterfinal since October, where he then lost to countryman Juan Mónaco. In doubles, Zeballos and countryman Sebastián Prieto were the fourth seeds and won the title against Simon Greul and Peter Luczak. It was Zeballos' first career ATP title. The next week, at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Zeballos lost in the first round to ?ukasz Kubot. He made it to the doubles semifinals, partnered with Mónaco, when Mónaco withdrew.

Horacio then went to play two tournaments in France, the first being Davis Cup. In Argentina's loss to France, he and Schwank lost to Michaël Llodra and Arnaud Clément. Horacio next made his Davis Cup singles debut against Clement. He lost the match. A month later, Horacio played in Moscow, Russia. He made it to the quarterfinals, with a great upset of Janko Tipsarevi? on the way. After losing in St. Petersburg, Horacio made his way back to the Challenger tour. In his first three tournaments, he made two quarterfinals and lost in the second round of the Copa Topper to countryman Juan Pablo Brzezicki.

2011

Horacio started the season playing Challengers. First, in São Paulo, he beat Júlio Silva, before falling to 448th ranked qualifier Rafael Camilo. He rebounded in Bucaramanga by beating veteran Iván Navarro in the first round, before losing to Moroccan Reda El Amrani in the second.

His victories were good enough to maintain his ranking of 108, and to get into the main draw of the Movistar Open in Santiago. Horacio beat qualifier Ricardo Hocevar in the first round, before taking on David Nalbandian in the second.

2012

Zeballos played mostly on the Challenger circuit in singles. He did not make it past the second round in any ATP events. He had more success in doubles. He made it to the semifinals in Viña de Mar and Buenos Aires. At Roland Garros, he and partner Oliver Marach made it to the quarterfinals, where they were beaten by the Bryan brothers. He partnered with João Souza in Båstad and again reached the quarterfinals.

2013

Horacio had a great run at Viña del Mar, making it to the final in singles, where he played and defeated Rafael Nadal, in Nadal's comeback tournament.[3]